The Manliest Action Movie Heroes

John Wick is in 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.John Wick left the assassin and hitman life after marrying his wife. After his wife died of cancer, John began a bloody spree to kill the man who killed his dog, his wife's last gift.

Manly Characteristics: John possesses incredible physical strength and stamina. John acts aggressive and fearless. In his assassin work, John completes nearly impossible jobs, like eliminating all the Tarasov Mob enemies in one night. John masters almost every weapon type. He turns common household items into deadly tools. If provoked, John takes revenge. Everyone who knows him fears his anger. He is a master marksman and a skilled martial arts student.Manly Characteristics: John possesses incredible physical strength and stamina. John acts aggressive and fearless. In his assassin work, John completes nearly impossible jobs, like eliminating all the Tarasov Mob enemies in one night. John masters almost every weapon type. He turns common household items into deadly tools. If provoked, John takes revenge. Everyone who knows him fears his anger. He is a master marksman and a skilled martial arts student.

Manliest Moment:On a mission to take down Italian gangster Santino D'Antonio,John Wick: Chapter 2Wick approaches his target in a crowded museum. Wick shows no fear of anyone nearby. Wick draws his weapon and takes down dozens of D'Antonio's henchmen in seconds. He moves through museum rooms, hunting his target. Adversaries surround him, but Wick defeats each one alone, barely getting hurt.

Played By: Keanu Reeves

Dutch is in 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.Dutch was a former US Army Special Operations soldier and Vietnam veteran. He became a mercenary military leader. His elite team executes a CIA and US military mission in Guatemala when they meet an alien called the Predator.

Manly Characteristics: Dutch is skilled in combat. He is unafraid of violence. Dutch is incredibly physically fit. He is confident and resists pain. Years of fighting gave him a gruff, direct attitude.Manly Characteristics: Dutch is skilled in combat. He is unafraid of violence. Dutch is incredibly physically fit. He is confident and resists pain. Years of fighting gave him a gruff, direct attitude.

Manliest Moment: Dutch fights the Predator alone. He uses traps and weapons he made himself to try and stop his prey. His first attack fails to stop the beast. Dutch does not quit; he fights the alien hand-to-hand until he lures the Predator into a trap that kills it.

Played By: Arnold Schwarzenegger

John is in 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.John is a seasoned detective with the New York City Police Department.

Manly Characteristics: John is talented and well-trained. John keeps his cool no matter what happens. He has an aggressive streak and does not flinch from danger. John is smart, innovative, and determined. Even when things look bad, John believes he can win by sheer willpower. His strength and endurance are almost unnatural. His cocky attitude shows this.Manly Characteristics: John is talented and well-trained. John keeps his cool no matter what happens. He has an aggressive streak and does not flinch from danger. John is smart, innovative, and determined. Even when things look bad, John believes he can win by sheer willpower. His strength and endurance are almost unnatural. His cocky attitude shows this.

Manliest Moment: John McClane decides to escape as the roof of Nakatomi Plaza explodes. He wraps a fire hose around his waist, climbs up to jump. Terrified but determined to live, McClane throws himself off the roof just as it catches fire. The fire hose stops him from hitting the ground. He then uses his gun to blow open a window and swings his bloody feet into the building, saving himself.

Played By: Bruce Willis

Who Is He? John Rambo served in Vietnam and returned from battle as a decorated hero. However, he also faces the damaging effects from his years in combat.

Manly Characteristics: After enduring torture from North Vietnamese soldiers, John becomes aggressive. He stays hardened, gruff, and rarely speaks up. He is a survival expert, trained in many weapons. His muscle, stealth, and smarts make him a master fighter who easily defeats opponents.

Manliest Moment: In First Blood Part II, Soviet soldiers capture Rambo. Learning American bureaucrat Murdoch framed Rambo for a crime he didn't commit, Rambo tells Murdoch over the radio he is coming for him. Then, he fights through a Soviet prison, taking down guards one by one with little help from his partner, and escapes.

Played By: Sylvester Stallone

Who Is He? Leonidas is the violent and brutal king of Sparta.

Manly Characteristics: King Leonidas is savage and aggressive. He wants to protect his people but has a bloodthirsty side. He gets satisfaction from angering enemies, like building a wall with Persian corpses. Leonidas is self-assured and confident; he refuses to accept no. He believes in his skills regardless of the odds. His pride and self-importance drive his actions.

Manliest Moment: When a messenger demands a sign of submission from a neighbor king, Leonidas weighs his choices. Proud and worried about his people and family, he draws his sword. Knowing this act of war might cost him his life, Leonidas kicks the messenger into the well, yelling, "This is Sparta!"

Played By: Gerard Butler

Who Is He? Maximus Decimus Meridius commands Roman legions under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After many successful military actions, Aurelius declares his son, Commodus, unfit to rule and asks Maximus to take the throne. In response, Commodus kills his father and becomes emperor. Maximus refuses to pledge loyalty to Commodus. He runs away, only to be captured by slavers and sold as a gladiator.

Manly Characteristics: Maximus trains hard for military combat; he knows the weapons of the day. He is a natural leader; he sparks loyalty in those who meet him. Maximus is strong, physically fit, and shows amazing reflexes and stamina that win fights.

Manliest Moment: After Commodus learns Maximus fights in the arena, he sets up a fight between Maximus and the undefeated gladiator Tigris of Gaul. Commodus also releases tigers onto Maximus. Despite this new enemy, Maximus fights the tigers and Tigris. Maximus dodges one beast, kills it just in time, and blocks Tigris's blows. Maximus wins the fight. He lets Tigris live instead of killing him.

Played By: Russell Crowe

Who Is He? John Matrix is a retired United States Army Special Forces colonel. Though he is not in active duty, he acts when a mercenary takes out his former team and kidnaps his daughter.

Manly Characteristics: Matrix acts aggressive, but he avoids violence. He cares for his family and fights to save his daughter. He is smart; he outwits his opponents. These traits combine with great fighting skill and mastery of all weapons.

Manliest Moment: When Matrix finds where his daughter is held, he storms the facility alone. He takes down his enemies to reach his girl. He then faces a former team member who helped kidnap his daughter. Matrix fights this man hand-to-hand; both struggle for control since they trained similarly.

While his foe gains ground, Matrix finds his strength and makes the opponent retreat. Then, his opponent pulls a sidearm. Matrix grabs a steam pipe and hurls it forward with enough force to hit his former friend.

Played By: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Who Is He? James Bond became Agent 007 in movies. He is a very skilled spy working for the British Secret Intelligence Service.

Manly Characteristics: Bond charms women easily and seduces anyone he meets. He stays detached and unemotional. Bond maintains excellent physical shape from spying and physical hobbies. He gambles but stops before losing too much. He is very smart and shows great strength and agility. Bond masters martial arts and is a skilled marksman. Bond faces no fear and jumps into any dangerous situation.

Manliest Moment: In SkyfallBond pursues an opponent across a moving train to the top. As the train speeds along the tracks, Bond fights his foe and ducks under tunnels that threaten to knock him off. Bond fights hard, never yielding. A team member shoots Bond, sending him hundreds of feet into the river, but Bond survives the fall.

Played By: Daniel Craig, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, David Niven, George Lazenby

Who Is He? Bryan Mills is a retired CIA agent. He wants to be near his daughter after leaving his dangerous job.

Manly Characteristics: Mills stays cold and distant. He cares for his family but struggles to show feelings. He keeps a cool head during all events, even when his daughter is taken. Mills is very protective and does anything for those he loves. Mills is older, yet he is extremely fit and strong. He has skills in hand-to-hand fighting and all weapon types. He is smart, scary, and almost fearless.

Manliest Moment: Searching for his daughter, Bryan finds a man from the kidnapping. He sneaks into the safe house alone and beats up all the gangsters except Marko. Then, he builds his own electric chair. He uses it to force Marko to give him information. Bryan tortures Marko until he reveals what he wants, then leaves Marko to die while he finds his daughter.

Played By: Liam Neeson

Who Is He? John Creasy, a former US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance officer, protects his friend's nine-year-old daughter, Pita. Creasy finds Pita after she is kidnapped.

Manly Characteristics: Creasy shows resilience. When Pita is taken, Creasy takes out four kidnappers before getting hurt badly. He recovers from those wounds and immediately seeks revenge for Pita. Creasy has noble goals, but he enjoys violence and brute force. He is skilled with many weapons and is nearly untouchable in a one-on-one fight.

Manliest Moment: While chasing the men who took Pita, Creasy hides in a building. He fires a rocket launcher at a car. In the confusion, Creasy walks into Mexico City streets. He blows up another car full of targets and kidnaps a Mexican gang member to ask about Pita's location.

Played By: Denzel Washington

Who Is He? Snake Plissken was a former US Army Special Forces lieutenant. He earned two Purple Hearts in the army. Later, he felt betrayed by the United States and turned to crime. He was caught robbing the Federal Reserve and sent to the maximum-security prison on Manhattan Island, New York.

Manly Characteristics: Plissken is hard and cynical. He distrusts everyone and treats people with a stern, gruff manner. Plissken will do anything to live. His Army time gave Plissken top combat training; he stays cool under pressure.

Manliest Moment: Wandering Manhattan, Plissken tries to save the president. Thugs capture Plissken. They force him to fight Slag. Plissken limps from an injury. Plissken takes down the much-larger opponent and escapes.

Played By: Kurt Russell

Who Is He? In a future dystopian Australia, Mad Max is a Main Force Patrol officer. He hunts reckless marauders to keep the peace. Max realizes he is becoming like the bad guys he hunts, so he quits and plans a quiet life with his family. A rival then stalks Max and kills his wife and son. After that, Max accepts his darker side and officially becomes "Mad Max."

Manly Characteristics: Max has amazing driving skills, making him a legend in taking down opponents. Ruthlessness is his other main trait. He had softer feelings when his wife and child lived, but he grows gruff, unemotional, and intensely brutal after they die. Max is a skilled fighter, excels with weapons, knows how to survive harsh conditions, and has medical knowledge to care for himself.

Manliest Moment: In Beyond Thuderdome, Mad Max fights in an arena. He knows he won't be free unless he wins, so Max fights brutally. He uses blades, spikes, and chainsaws to gain the upper hand. As Max nearly takes down his foe, he sees his opponent is just an overgrown child. Max spares the opponent instead of getting his freedom.

Played By: Mel Gibson, Tom Hardy

Who Is He? Blade, also called Eric Brooks, is a half-vampire who hunts vampires.

Manly Characteristics: Blade is skilled in martial arts and uses many weapons to beat his prey. He has a strong moral code, but he causes planned pain if it works for him. He is strong-willed and smart, allowing him to fight his need for human blood. Though he cares for others, he can be very brutal, especially when deciding to kill his own mother.

Manliest Moment: Blade enters a packed club full of bloody, eating vampires. One man faces a swarm of vampires, but everyone in the club stares at him in fear. A vampire attacks, making his peers chase Blade. Blade handles many vampires. He then fights a crew with weapons, taking down every opponent calmly. Blade does not sweat during the fight. Blade wins the battle.

Played By: Wesley Snipes

Who Is He? John Spartan failed a mission as an LAPD sergeant. Punishment for his recklessness froze him cryogenically for years. Thirty-six years later, he emerges. He tracks the criminal who caused his trouble first. He appears in a new world with no violent crime, but human actions remain tightly controlled.

Manly Characteristics: Spartan is rough and unrefined. He swears and accepts violence, which confuses the new, clean 2032 world. He acts controlled and thinks before moving, but he uses force and aggression when needed. Spartan excels in combat and knows how to use many destructive weapons.

Manliest Moment: Spartan finally finds his enemy, Simon Phoenix, in the cryo-prison where he plans to free more convicts. Spartan confronts Phoenix and tries to take him down in the prison lab. Spartan avoids all of Phoenix's shots and keeps chasing him. After a hard fight with a machine gun and a hand-to-hand brawl, Spartan takes down Phoenix by jumping to safety and electrocuting the water under his enemy's feet.

Played By: Sylvester Stallone

Who Is He? Frank Dux is a US Army captain who learned ninjutsu and leaves his post for an underground martial arts tournament called the Kumite.

Manly Characteristics: Dux is a master martial artist who can take down any man with few moves. Dux has integrity, but his main goal is to become the best fighter. He stays controlled but can become very aggressive in a fight. Dux values both victory and revenge.

Manliest Moment: In the tournament's final fight, Dux faces an opponent who just killed someone. During the fight, his foe makes a dirty move and blinds Dux with salt. Dux fights without sight instead of giving up or losing, taking down his opponent and winning the whole tournament.

Played By: Jean-Claude Van Damme

Who Is He? James Dalton works as a professional bouncer at a club in Jasper, Missouri.

Manly Characteristics: Dalton stays quiet and reserved, even though locals in Jasper are tough. His calm demeanor makes him more scary. Dalton clashes with locals, but he handles his business without complaint and does not let anger control him. Despite seeming calm, Dalton shows great brutality, like ripping a man's throat out with his hands. Dalton has intimidating skills, especially in hand-to-hand combat.

Manliest Moment: When an enemy henchman blows up a house and nearly hurts Dalton's friend, Dalton loses control. Dalton chases the arsonist, and the two men fight violently. At the end of the fight, Dalton's foe pulls out a gun. Dalton kicks it away without flinching and rips out his opponent's throat with his bare hands.

Played By: Patrick Swayze

Who Is He? Booker, a retired military man, fights the Sang Soldiers as a one-man army. When Barney Ross and his team get cornered by soldiers, Booker defeats them all and saves the whole team.

Manly Characteristics: Booker's main strength is his skill with an assault rifle. He takes down many opponents alone. Booker prefers this method. Booker keeps others far away and pursues every mission solo. This attitude gives him a mysterious air and manly strength.

Manliest Moment: When Barney Ross and his team get cornered by Sang Soldiers, they cannot escape alone. Ross says only a tank can beat the soldiers. Suddenly, unknown shots fire, and every Sang Soldier falls. Then, a rocket blows up the tank. The whole fight takes seconds. As the soldiers lie down, Booker comes out of the dust and claims credit for the attack.

Played By: Chuck Norris

Who Is He? Beck is a bounty hunter who collects debts for a client. When he wants to stop being a "retrieval expert," his boss offers him a new business if Beck rescues his son, Travis, from a small mining town in Brazil.

Manly Characteristics: Beck's key feature is his huge size. He has massive muscles, strength, endurance, and stamina. Beck is determined and smart; these traits make him good at his job. Beck is a master marksman and shows great skill in hand-to-hand combat, even in battle.

Manliest Moment: When Beck and Travis face the mining town leader and his goons, Travis's poor fighting skills cause trouble. Travis gets stuck in a bus about to explode, taking fire from all sides. Instead of letting the kid die, Beck uses two guns and steps into open ground surrounded by enemies on high ground. He dodges their fire and takes out many opponents, letting Travis escape. Beck then walks away from the explosion calm and unhurt.

Played By: Dwayne "The Rock" JohnsonDwayne "The Rock" Johnson is on the list 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.

Who Is He? Tyler Durden is the Narrator's friend. Tyler first pushes the Narrator to blow off steam by starting a fight club. Tyler later becomes the Narrator's split personality.Tyler Durden is a friend of the Narrator who first encourages him to blow off some steam by starting a fight club. Later, Tyler is just the manifestation of the Narrator's split personality.

Manly Characteristics: Tyler loves violence. He prefers it. He starts a fight club to add violence to his daily life. Tyler knows how to fight well and takes hits. He stays calm, cool, and collected. His smooth, confident style wins over men and women.Tyler loves violence. He prefers it. He starts a fight club to put violence into his daily life. Tyler knows how to fight and can take hits. He remains calm, cool, and collected. His smooth, confident style wins over men and women.

Manliest Moment: Tyler enjoyed being in the fight club. During one fight, Tyler bled from his face and chest but kept hitting his opponent. Tyler won and happily took praise from his fight club members despite the blood.Tyler relishes being in the fight club. During a fight, Tyler bled from his face and chest yet kept hitting his opponent. Tyler won and got praise from his fight club members despite the blood running over him.

Played By: Brad PittBrad Pitt is on the list 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.

Who Is He? John Shaft II is the nephew of the original John Shaft. He followed his uncle's path, becoming a detective for the New York City Police Department. After a rich real estate tycoon commits a hate crime, Shaft quits the police force. Shaft promises to bring the man to justice alone.John Shaft II is the nephew of the original John Shaft. He became a detective for the New York City Police Department, following his uncle's path. After a wealthy real estate tycoon commits a hate crime, Shaft retires from the police force. Shaft promises to bring the man to justice on his own.

Manly Characteristics: Shaft uses violence and threats to get results instead of the law. His aggression causes trouble multiple times. Every violent act fits his own moral code. Shaft is skilled with guns and hand-to-hand fighting, making him a dangerous foe.Shaft prefers violence and threats for results over the law. His aggression causes trouble more than once. Every violent act matches his own moral code. Shaft is skilled with guns and hand-to-hand combat, making him a dangerous adversary.

Manliest Moment: To save a key witness in his case, Shaft puts down his gun and offers to fight his opponent hand-to-hand. When the opponent draws a weapon, Shaft moves faster. He pulls a backup weapon and shoots the opponent, freeing the witness.Shaft puts down his gun to save a key witness. He offers to fight his opponent hand-to-hand. When the opponent draws a weapon, Shaft moves faster. He draws a backup weapon and fires at the opponent, freeing the witness.

Played By: Samuel L. JacksonSamuel L. Jackson is on the list 'The Manliest Action Movie Heroes'.